Connector



Oct. 31, 1939. H. A. DOUGLAS CONNECTOR Filed April 5, 1937 F x ifmW/ma/ ATTOQNJEPKS:

. Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED sures 2,178,337 comvscroa Harry A. Douglas, Bronson, Micln, assignor to Kingston Products Corporatioin a corporation of Indiana Application liprii 5, 1937, Serial no. new

8 mi e This invention relates to connectors, for connecting electrical conductors, and the principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved connectors of this type.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial Number 648,355, filed December 22, 1932, and patented April 6, 1937, Number 2,076,072.

In the drawing accompanying and forming u part of this specification I have shown for example certain forms which my invention may assume, and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal View showing one form of connector according to my invention, in

5 position on a panel,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the connector of Figure 1, largely in section,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-43 of Figure 2, and

\i Figures 4 through 7' are views similar to Figure 2, showing alternative forms.

In each of the herein disclosedembodlments of my invention the connector is shown as mounted on an insulating panel I, in a passage 2 extend- 5 ing through the panel I, and as comprising a head 3 provided with an axial bore 3 adapted to receive a plug terminal 5 constructed for example as shown in my said copending application Serial Number 648,355.

r In each-of these embodiments of my invention, the annular wall 6 formed at the outer end of the head 3 by the axial bore t, is provided with a traversing aperture 7 tapered to form a seat for a detent ball 9 constructed and arranged to be 3 received in the annular detent seat 9 of the plug 5.

In each of these embodiments, the annular wall 6 also is provided on its outer face with an annular recess Ill intersecting the traversing aper-.

ture l and in which is positioned a generally annular leaf spring II having its ends I2 engaging with and pressing against the detent ball 8 urging the detent ball 8 inwardly into position to seat in the detent seat 9 of the plug 5, to hold the plug 5 removably received in the axial bore 6,

assembled with the connector.

For this purpose the spring II is formed of a smaller diameter, and then expanded, thereby to resiliently press the detent ball 8 inwardly. Also, the spring I I is provided at each end I2 with a notch I3 partially receiving the detent ball 8, and these notches I3, by thus partially receiving the detent ball 8 on opposite sides thereof, tend to additionally prevent accidental rotation of L the spring II about the annular wall 6, and to maintain the spring II in the desired position relative to the detent ball 8, with the two ends I2 of the spring II in engagement with the-outer surface of the detent ball 8, pressing the detent ball 8 inwardly, but free to permit outward move-- a ment of the detent ball 8 upon insertion or withdrawal of the plug 5, without necessity of any sliding of the spring II over the surface of the wall e.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in w Figures 1 through 3, the head 3 is provided with a screw-threaded stud M traversing the passage 2 and carrying at its remote end an integral socket I5 adapted to receive a second plug terminal, for example, another plug terminal such as the plug terminal 5, and in this embodiment the connector is mounted on the panel I by means of a nut I8 screw-threadedlyengaging the screw-threaded shank It and clamping the panel I between this nut It and an annular shoulder ll formed at the base of the head 3, but preferably through intervening washers It and It.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the head 3 is provided with a simple screw-threaded shank likewise traversing the passage 2, and do in this embodiment the connector likewise is clamped to the panel I by the nut It screwthreadedly engaging the screw-threaded shank 20 and clamping the panel between the. nut I5 and the annular shoulder ll of the head 3, again $9 preferably through the intervening washers I9 and I9. In this embodiment the second conductor is shown as provided withan eye terminal it received on the projecting end of the screwthreaded stud 20 exteriorly of the nut It, but alternatively, the engagement may be merely by the conductor wire itself. In any event, the second conductor is secured to the remote end of the conductor by means of a second nut 22 also screwthreadedly engaging the screw-threaded shank i0 20 and clamping the second conductor between this second nut 22 and the first nut Iii, either without intervening washers, as here shown, or with intervening washers, for example, if the second conductor is secured merely in the form of the conductor wire itself.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the head 3 again is provided with the simple screw-threaded shank 20 traversing the passage 2, but in this embodiment the connector is clamped to the panel I by a. member 23 comprising an integrally elongated stud 2 3 provided with a screw-threaded axial bore 25 screw-threadedly coacting with the projecting end of the screw-threaded shank 20, thereby to clamp the connector to the panel I between the annularinner end 28 of the stud I4 and the shoulder I! of the body 3, again preferably through the intervening washers I8 and It. In this embodiment the member 23 carries at its outer end a head 21' containing a terminal receptacle a duplicate oi the terminal receptacle of the head 3.

The embodiment shown in Figure 6 is identical with the embodiment shown in Figure 5, except that the embodiment shown in Figure 6 comprises a member 28 provided with a terminal receptacle 2! a duplicate oi the terminal receptacle I! of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figure '7, the head 3, instead of being provided with any sort of shank, is provided with a screw-threaded axial bore 30 screw-threadedly receiving a machine screw shank 3| traversing the panel passage 2, and the connector is clamped to the panel I between the screw head 32 and the annular shoulder l1 formed at the base of the head 3,

again preferably through the intervening washers l8 and I9. In this embodiment the second conductor is clamped in position either between the head 32 and the washer l8, or between the washer I8 and the panel I, or between the panel I and the washer" l9, or between the washer l9 and the head 3, as may be desired, or an additional washer may be provided, on either side of the panel I, and the conductor may be clamped between this washer and the adjacent washer.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that this invention does provide new and improved connectors, for connecting electrical conductors, and accordingly, does accomplish the principal object of the invention. At the same time, it also will be obvious thatvarious changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and accordingly, that the foregoing disclosure is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Connecting means having elongated tubular means for the reception of a conductor terminal, and having a transverse aperture for the reception of a detent; a single detent accommodated in said aperture; and a split ring extending about said tubular means, the split ends of said ring bearing at spaced points on said detent and hav- 'ing notches for the accommodation-oi said detent for holding said ring against axial displacement .with respect to said tubular means.

2. Connecting means, having an elongated tubular wall defining a socket, said wall having an aperture communicating with said socket, said tubular wall having a groove extending at least partially ci'rcumferentially therearound; single detent means disposed in said aperture and adapted to project'into said socket; a split ring bearing in said groove, having its split ends engaging said detent means at spaced points to bias the same into'position projecting into said socket, said split ends having marginal recesses for accommodation of said detent means.

3. Connecting means, comprising: tubular means, having a transverse aperture in a wall portion; single detent means in said aperture; and resilient split ring means, disposed around and being substantially coaxial with said tubular means, said ring means having seat means formed in the margins of the split endsreceiving at least a portion of said detent means, said seat means and said detent means being so constructed and arranged that said ring means is restrained from displacement from operative position with respect to said tubular means, and said detent means is restrained from displacement from said aperture.

4. Connecting means, comprising: tubular means, having a transverse aperture in a wall portion; single detent means, disposed in said aperture for movement radially with'respect to said tubular means; and resilient split ring means, circumferentially disposed about said tubular means, with the split end portions pressing on said detent means and urging said detent means inwardly 01' said tubular means, said portions having complementary marginal recesses interengaging with said detent means and holding said ring means against rotation with respect to said tubular means.

5. Connecting means, comprising: a body, having a cylindrical end portion formed with a longitudinal recess and a transverse aperture leading from an outer surface of said end portion inwardly into said longitudinal recess, said end portion having a peripheral groove aligned with said aperture; a 'detent member, disposed within said aperture for movement toward and away from said recess; a split ring, disposed in said groove and so held against movement longitudinally of said end portion, the split ends of said ring bearing on said detent member, and urging said detent member in a direction toward said recess, said split ends being notched, and

. the notched surfaces engaging adjacent surfaces of said detent member, holding said ring against rotative movement with respect to said end portion.

6. Connecting means, comprising: a body, having an end portion formed with a longitudinal recess and a transverse aperture leading from an outer surface of said end portion inwardly into said longitudinal recess, said end portion having a substantially annular groove aligned with said aperture; a spherical detent member, disposed within said aperture for movement toward and away from said recess; a split ring, substantially annular in form, disposed in said groove and so held against movement longitudinally of said end portion, the split ends of said ring bearing on said detent member, and urging said detent member in a direction toward said recess, said split ends being provided with complementary notches, and the notched surfaces engaging the adjacent surfaces of said detent member, holding said ring against rotative movement with respect to said end portion.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

